Pumpkin Crumb Cake (Vegan)

I formulated this recipe for an event in October and I have been making it almost weekly since. I have had to restrain myself from over-posting it on Instagram. I haven’t even tried to restrain myself from over-eating it. This cake is so freaking good, I can’t even tell you.

I am not a cake person. I find cake to generally be an over sweetened, under-whelming experience. There are, of course, exceptions; crumb cake is usually one of them. Does anyone remember Entenmann’s crumb topped doughnuts? Oh man, those things….

As I said, I have been eating a lot of cake. I don’t know if it’s the cake or the weather or the stars, but I have also been thinking about really big things. If you aren’t so interested in hearing my thoughts about big things, (I mean, why would you be?), then by all means, scroll down to the recipe below…

I am of the mind that our external reality is inextricably tied to our inner reality. We filter the world through the lens of our perception. We unconsciously assume that our lens is objective. We can often see the subjectivity of other people’s filters, but overestimate the clarity of our own.

At the same time, I believe in collective movement. We are deeply effected by the collective and the collective is, in a way that we cannot easily understand, effected by us. I see the collective as functioning in shared beliefs and constructs that make up a societal paradigm, but also in the Jungian sense of a collective unconscious.

So, if our experience of the world is colored by a lens, getting to know that lens makes a lot of sense to me. I believe that we accumulate experiences and stories that impact the quality of our lens, as does the collective experience. But I also give weight to the impact of the cosmic. I joked in a blog post awhile back about blaming my funky moods on astrology. While that is, on the one hand, a really good way to subvert one’s responsibility, it also has its place. Ancient societies understood the potent effect that cosmic movement had on their lives and they took great care in studying such effects. I take comfort in the collective quality of cosmic movement. Over the last week I have been feeling exactly like this. The fact that there is a cosmic explanation for the way I have been experiencing life is really cool, but in my mind, that doesn’t mean I can say “Oh phew, that explains it” and move on. Cosmic movement doesn’t put us in a funk, it exposes a facet of our filter and gives us the opportunity to see that facet more clearly.

I think that studying collective and cosmic movement can be incredibly helpful. It can inform and enlighten the personal journey. However, I find the most practical benefit in studying the way that these bigger concepts effect my personal experience.

Ultimately, my filter limits the scope of my dreams. As I have gotten to know my lens, I have incrementally been able to relinquish it. While I still very much see the world through my own filter, some of my limiting belief systems have slowly parted from view. As this process has progressed, I find that there is more freedom and space in my world, in my perception. I have found that my dreams get bigger and I hardly recognize them as my own. You see, when we dream through the limiting structure of our filters, our dreams become small and rigid. We often sell the smallness and rigidity to ourselves under the guise of rationality.

My personal process often looks something like this…

feel funky/dream small

blame the world

blame astrology

say “oops”/own my shit

clarify my filter

expand my dreams/feel delightful

feel funky…

But really, there can be a rhythm to the process of seeing ourselves. If you have ever kept up with a periodical astrology report (you hippie, you), you might have noticed the same concepts arising in a cyclical pattern. I have noticed the same themes arising in myself. Expansion/contraction, build/release, growth/assimilation… I have found that if I ride the waves of these cycles, turning to them as opportunities to know myself, I feel less thrown around by life. Things garner purpose. The chaos becomes a guide on the road to knowing myself.

As Ram Dass says, “Whatever fears or anxieties you are dealing with, don’t deny them, don’t get lost in them, just allow them to be grist for the mill of your awakening.”

I find that way of looking at things to be incredibly empowering. So is making your own pumpkin crumb cake, because as delicious as Entenmann’s crumb donuts are, those things will probably kill you.

This cake is insanely moist, pumpkin-y, and tender. Despite being totally decadent, it is whole-grain and is wheat, dairy and refined sugar free. Best of all, it can be made a day ahead and is still moist and fabulous two days after baking!

Combine the spelt flour, coconut palm sugar, cinnamon, salt and pecans in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Drizzle the coconut oil over the dry ingredients and blend together until a clumpy mixture forms. Set aside while you make the cake.

For the cake:

Preheat your oven to 350°. Rub some coconut oil on the bottom and sides of a 9 inch spring form pan and set aside.

In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients and set aside. Place the pumpkin puree, the maple syrup and the coconut oil in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Add the hot water and whisk again. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones and fold until just incorporated.

Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the crumb mixture over the batter and follow with the remaining batter, evening out the top with a spoon. Sprinkle the Remaining crumb on top of the batter.

Bake for aout 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before removing the springform ring. Allow the cake to cool to warm before serving. This cake can be made a day in advance and will keep for two days if wrapped tightly.

Hi Carly! While spelt definitely has gluten, some people (like me) digest it much more easily than traditional wheat. While spelt and wheat are relatives, I say “wheat-free” for people like myself who bake with ancient grains, but avoid wheat flour. I hope you are having a beautiful day! – Dillon

Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts yesterday, it really hit a nerve for me on a personal level. I understand exactly what you mean when you say your filter limits the scope of your dreams. As you said, it’s a process, but I just feel so frustrated by it all sometimes. I enjoyed reading your thoughts about it though, and I love the quote from Ram Dass too.

This cake is truly amaaazing! I’ve just made it for the Christmas eve tomorrow and I must say it tastes and smells divine. Was not able to find pecans here, so walnuts did the trick as a great substitute:)
Thanks for posting this recipe! Merry, happy…

Thank you Dillon! You are an amazing chef and an inspirational blogger.
I tried your take on kitchari the other day and it was soo good, so it made me wish to try all of your recipes, which I will eventually do:)

This cake IS hands down the best pumpkin cake EVER!! I finally made it and it was devoured right away.
It isn’t too sweet and is super moist and flavorful. just the perfect amount of spice!
Whoa, Dillon 10 thumbs -up! Thanks for sharing.
mmmmm…